International Journal of Pharmaceutical Biological and Chemical Sciences eview rticle R A INDIAN TINOSPORA SPECIES: NATURAL IMMUNOMODULATORS AND THERAPEUTIC AGENTS Patel Nidhi, Patel Swati and Krishnamurthy R* C G Bhakta Institute of Biotechnology, Maliba campus, Uka Tarsadia University, Bardoli- 394 350 Dist. Surat, Gujarat, India. *Corresponding Author Email: [email protected], [email protected] ABSTRACT: The substance which stimulates or suppresses the components of immune system is known as immunomodulator. Antibiotics have limited effective life span and its prolonged use is harmful. So, scientists are more relying on medicinal plants, which are natural immunomodlators and therapeutic agents. This review paper presents plant description, chemical properties, immunomodulatory and therapeutic properties of Indian Tinospora species. Indian Tinospora species are belonging from menispermaceae family. Tinospora species plants are climbing shrubs. They are mostly found in tropical and subtropical area of India. There are mainly three species: Tinospora cordifolia, Tinospora malabarica and Tinospora crispa.These three species are closely related with their morphology & chemical properties of stem, bark, leaves, flowers,etc. Tinospora cordifolia mainly found at tropical region of India. It is widely used as a medicine in folk and ayurvedic systems.It possesses general adaptogenic, rejuvenating and immunomodulatory activity so it is widely used in Ayurveda. Tinospora malabarica is giantdeciduous climber mainly found at Konkan, Karnataka, Tamilnadu, Bengal, and Orissa. It is mixed as adulterant or substitute with T. cordifolia. It is also an immunomodulator. Tinopora crispa is small herb which widely grows in temperate and tropical parts of India.It isvaluable in general debility, in chronic rheumatism, in malarial fevers and in diabetes therapy. KEYWORDS: Immunomodulators,Phytochemistry, T.cordifolia, T.crispa, T.malabarica/sinensis, Therapeutic agents, etc. INTRODUCTION mainly three species: Tinospora cordifolia, Tinospora The substance which stimulates or suppresses the malabarica and Tinospora crispa.These three species components of immune system including both innate are closely related with their morphology & chemical and adaptive immune responses is known as an properties of stem, bark, leaves, flowers,etc.The detail immunomodulators[1]. Modulation of immune system knowledge of Indian Tinospora species are given in denotes to any change in the immune response that can this review one by one. involve induction, expression, amplification or inhibition of any part or phase of immune system. INDIAN TINOSPORA SPECIES There are generally two types of immunomodulators 1.Tinospora cordifolia based on their effects: Immunomodulators and 1.1 Botanical name: Tinospora cordifolia (willd.) Immunosupressors. They have ability to mount an Mier ex Hook. F & Thoms immune response or defend against pathogens or 1.2 Synonyms: Cocculus cordifolius DC.; tumors [2]. Antibiotics have limited effective life span Menispermum cordifolium (willd); and its prolonged use is harmful, so scientists are Tinospora glabra(N.Burm.) Merr.[5]. investigated new alternate source of medicine forcombating and alleviating various disorders in 1.3 Taxonomy humans. Medicinal plants have been used to cure Kingdom: Plantae human illness, which primarily show cellular rather Division: Magnoliphyta than humoral immune response. It augments Class: Magnoliopsida macrophages chemotaxis, phagocytosis & promotes Order: Ranunculales interaction with other immune regulatory lymphoid Family: Menispermaceae cells[3].Menispermaceae family consists of about 70 Genus:Tinospora genera and 450 species that are foundin tropical Species: cordifolia lowland regions. Tinospora is belonging from menispermaceae family. They are generally climbing 1.4 classical names 1 or twining shrubs [4]. They are mostly found in Guduchi, Madhuparni, Amrita, Amritavallari, tropical and subtropical area of India. There are Chhinna, Chhinnaruha, Chhinnodbhava, Vatasadani, Page International Journal of Pharmaceutical, Biological and Chemical Sciences (IJPBCS) | APR-JUN 2013 | VOLUME 2 | ISSUE 2 | 01 - 09 www.ijpbcs.net or www.ijpbcs.com *Krishnamurthy R et al; INDIAN TINOSPORA SPECIES: NATURAL IMMUNOMODULATORS AND THERAPEUTIC AGENTS Tantrika, Kundalini,Chakralakshanika,Somavalli, Leaves: simple, alternate, estipulate, cordate, long Dhira, Vishalya, Rasayani, Chandrahasa, Vayastha, petioles up to 15 cm long, roundish, pulvinate.Both at Mandali, Devanirmita[6]. the base and apex with basal one longer and twisted partially and half way round[7]. 1.5 Plant description Lamina:ovate or ovate cordate, 10-20 cm long, 8-15 Habit: large, deciduous, extensively spreading, cm broad, 7 nerved and deeply cordate base, climbing shrub with several elongated twinning membranous, whitish tomentose with prominent branches[7].(Fig.1) reticulum beneath[7].(Fig. 4) Distribution: Plant is distributed throughout the Flowers: unisexual, small on separate plants and tropical region of India up to 800-1200 m above sea appearing when plant is leafless, greenish yellow on level, extending from Himalayas down to the southern axillary and terminal racemes.Male flower clustered part of peninsular India [8]. and female usually solitary. Flowers grow during Stem: fibrous and the transverse section exhibits summer [7, 9].(Fig. 5) wedge shaped wood bundles, containing largea Sepals: 6, free in two series of three each, the outer yellowish wood with radially arranged wedge shaped one are smaller than the inner [7]. wood bundles, containing largevessels, separated by Petals: 6, free smaller than sepals, obovate and narrow medullary rays[9].(Fig.2) membranous [7]. Bark: creamy white to grey brown, warty, deeply left Fruits: aggregates of 1-3 ovoid smooth druplete on spirally, the space in between being spotted with large thick stalk with sub terminal style scars, rosette like lenticels[10,11]. Scarlet or orange red color. Fruits grow during winter Root:succulent with long filiform fleshy aerial roots [7, 9].(Fig. 6) from the branches [10].(Fig. 3) Seeds: white, bean shaped, curved [6].(Fig.7). Fig. 1 Tinosporacordifolia plant Fig 2. Tinosporacordifolia stem Fig. 3 Tinosporacordifolia aerial roots Fig.4Tinosporacordifolia leaves 2 Page International Journal of Pharmaceutical, Biological and Chemical Sciences (IJPBCS) | APR-JUN 2013 | VOLUME 2 | ISSUE 2 | 01-09 | www.ijpbcs.net *Krishnamurthy R et al; INDIAN TINOSPORA SPECIES: NATURAL IMMUNOMODULATORS AND THERAPEUTIC AGENTS Fig. 5 Tinosporacordifolia flowers Fig. 6 Tinosporacordfolia fruits Fig. 7 Tinosporacordifolia seeds 1.6 Phytochemistry (Active chemical constituents) compounds and polysaccharides. Leaves are rich in A variety of constituents are isolated from Tinospora protein (11.2%) and fairly rich in calcium and cordifolia Belonging to different classes such as phosphorus [10, 12, 13].Table a. Provides active alkaloids, glycosides, diterpenoid lactones, chemical constituents of different parts of T. sesquiterpenoids, steroids, phenolics, aliphatic cordifolia[10]. Table a: Active chemical constituents of different parts of Tinosporacordifolia (S.S. singh et al, 2003). No Type of chemicals Active chemical constituent Plant part 1 Alkaloids Berberine , PalmatineTembetarine, Magnoflorine Stem and root ,Choline, Tinosporin, Isocolumbin, Palmatine, Tetrahydropalmatine , Magnoflorine 2 Glycosides 18-norclerodane glucoside Stem Furanoidditerpeneglucoside Tinocordiside ,Tinocordifolioside . Cordioside, Cordifolioside A, CordifoliosideB,Syringin , Syringin-apiosylglycoside, Palmatosides C, Palmatosides F, Cordifoliside A, Cordiofoliside B, Cordifoliside C, Cordifoliside D, Cordifoliside E 3 Diterpenoid lactones Furanolactone , Whole plant Lactones Clerodane derivatives , diepoxy-cleroda-13 (16), 14-dieno-17,12S: 18,1S-dilactone]and Tinosporon, Tinosporidesand Jateorine , Columbin 4 Steroids β -sitosterol , δ-sitosterol, 20β- hydroxyecdysone, Aerial parts and stem Ecdysterone , Makisterone A ,Giloinsterol 5 Sesquiterpenoid Tinocordifolin Stem 6 Aliphatic compouds Octacosanol , Heptacosanol Whole plant compound Nonacosan-15-one 7 Micelleneous compounds 3,(α,4-di hydroxy-3-methoxy-benzyl)-4-(4- Whole plant and root Compounds hydroxy-3-methoxy-benzyl)-tetrahydrofuran. Jatrorrhizine, Tinosporidine, Cordifol,Cordifelone,N- trans-feruloyltyramine as diacetate,Giloin, Giloinin, 3 Tinosporic acid Page International Journal of Pharmaceutical, Biological and Chemical Sciences (IJPBCS) | APR-JUN 2013 | VOLUME 2 | ISSUE 2 | 01-09 | www.ijpbcs.net *Krishnamurthy R et al; INDIAN TINOSPORA SPECIES: NATURAL IMMUNOMODULATORS AND THERAPEUTIC AGENTS 1.7 Ayurvedic properties mechanism to counter infective stresses. The Rasa- Tikta, Kashaya; Guna- Guru, Snigdha; above results indicate that T. cordifolia has Veerya- Ushna; Vipaka- Madhura;Doshaghnata- immunomodulating properties [7]. Tridoshashashamaka; Rogaghnata- Kushtha, B) As a therapeutic agent vatarakta, Netraroga, Trishna, Daha, Chhardi, T.cordifolia is useful in folk medicine& has Aruchi, Agnimandya, shola, Yakrridvikara, Kamala, also been claimed to be beneficial according to Amlapitta,Pravahika, Atisara, Raktatisara, Grahani, ‘Ayurveda’ for cure of jaundice, skin diseases, Krimi, Arsha, Hriddaurbalya, Diabetes, anemia, cancer, liver disorder, heart pleehavriddhi,Vastishotha,Raktavikara, Amavata, disease, Parkinson’s disease & enaciations Pandu, Shwasa, Kasa, Shukradaurbalya, Prameha, [1,7]. Madhumeha, Mootrakrichchhra, Kushtha, Visarpa, Polyherbal